Objective

2

To evaluate the development of auditory and speech perception in children and adolescents after cochlear implantation and to determine which factors are associated with predicting postoperative outcome.

Method

2

128 children and adolescents participated in this study. All subjects had prelingual bilateral severe sensorineural hearing loss. Postoperative auditory and speech performance was collected for all subjects

as well as age at implantation

duration of cochlear implant use

educational system received by the subject

and primary parent's literacy level. The categorical auditory performance (CAP) and speech intelligibility rating (SIR) were used as outcome measures.

Results

2

The younger the implantation age was

the better the prognosis; Auditory performance and speech articulation tended to be stable two years after surgery; Patients who attended mainstream schools had a better prognosis than those who attended deaf schools.

Conclusion

2

The age of cochlear implantation in children and adolescents with prelingual deafness

the duration of cochlear implant use and the educational system the patient receives are all relevant factors in assessing the prognostic outcome of speech.